MALGACHE CULTURE, Madagascar, circa 1930 - Lot 154

MALGACHE CULTURE, Madagascar, circa 1930 Portrait mask depicting a stylized male face with naturalistic features. The forehead is encircled by a headband sculpted in relief, adorned with ovoid protrusions reminiscent of pearls. The hair is arranged in small, layered buns forming a central braided crest, typical of traditional hairstyles on the Grande Île. The serene, structured facial expression bears witness to refined craftsmanship and a keen eye for the uniqueness of the features. Wood, old honey-brown patina. Height 21 cm. Width : 19 cm. Provenance: Collection of Dr. Grison, Paris, collected by his great-uncle in the 1940s. This portrait mask illustrates the fascination with African figures in the '30s, reflecting a hybrid aesthetic between local tradition and the Western gaze. Its naturalism and stylized lines are fully in line with the Art Deco movement, where exoticism became a central artistic motif.